Take-down square.



H. MQULEARY. TAKE-DOWN SQUARE. APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 3, 1912.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

L'VVENTOR.

VVITNESSLS:

A TTOR NE KR 'UNTT srnrns magnum prion HENRY IVIGCLEARY, OF SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SAEGEN'I & CO1V'- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TAKE-DOWN SQUARE.

LIQBJIMQQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 20. 1915.

Application filed January 3, 1912. Serial No. 669,244.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MCCLEARY, of the town of Southington, county of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have 1nvented new and useful Improvements in Take-Down Squares, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved take-down or separable square primarily 1ntended for the use of carpenters.

It is a Well-known fact that if a carpenters square is so constructed as to be capable of being taken apart, folded, or collapsed, it offers numerous advantages over the ordinary squares, which are unwieldy and cannot be conveniently taken from place to place or packed for shipment. On the other hand, however, the take-down or collapsible squares which have heretofore been devised have not given satisfactory service in all cases, inasmuch as they have been apt to get out of order. More particularly, such squares have been so constructed 1n a number of instances that after a certain amount of use the arms or branches when placed in their assembled or operative position would not be strictly perpendicular to each other, with the result that the Work turned out has been inaccurate and unsatisfactory.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and durable take-down square in which the above mentioned defects are avoided.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a partial face view of a square embodying the invention, the extremities of the arms or branches being broken away; F 1g. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of one of the arms detached; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the other arm; Fig. 4 is a section on line AA, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the connecting pin by means of which the two arms of the square are detachably secured in perpendicular relation.

Referring to the drawing, B designates one of the arms of the square, and C indicates the other arm. The connection between said arms comprises a tongue and groove joint supplemented by a suitable connecting pin or the like to hold the arms rigidly in their assembled position. In the embodiment illustrated, the joint between the arms comprises a groove or mortise 6 formed transversely in the face of the arm B, and a tongue 0 extending from the end of the arm 0 and fitting within the aforesaid groove. The mortise 7) is undercut or dovetailed, as shown in Fig. 4:, and the tongue 0 is of course shaped correspondingly. The entrance or mouth of the mortise or groove is curved or flared as at Z) by the profiling tool which forms the mortise, and the latter is preferably rounded off at its closed rear end, as shown at Z9 In order to obtain a maximum amount of rigidity at the joint between the arms the mortise or groove and the tongue or extension fitting therein are made rather elongated, the mortise extending throughout the length of an integral transverse extension 6 on the arm B. In other words, said arm B is provided with an extension which forms the elbow of the square, and this extension, together with a portion of the arm B, is provided with an elongated groove or mortise cut in the face of the same.

The arms B and C are locked in assembled relation by means of a pin D inserted in an opening in the edge of the arm B and traversing the groove 6. This pin passes transversely across the groove and across the solid portions at the sides of the same, whereby it is effectively anchored within the arm B. The openings or sockets in the arm B at opposite sides of the groove are open only at the end. Then the pin is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, its intermediate portion lies in the groove (Z extending across the back face or wall of the mortise, and it also lies in a correspondingly formed groove 0 extending across the rear face of the tenon o, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence the connecting member is positively but detachably interlocked with the opposing faces of the tenon or tongue 0 and the arm B. I/Vhen the parts are in the position mentioned, the engagement of the pin D with the groove 0 effectively prevents the longitudinal displacement of the arm C relative to its mortise or socket.

When it is desired to take down the square for shipment or the like, the pin D may be readily removed by introducing a suitable tool into an opening 6 in the arm B, in which opening the rear end of the pin is normally accommodated. By pressing the tool against the rear end of the pin the forward end of the latter, which normally lies approximately flush with one of the straight edges of the square, can be forced outward, after which it can be grasped by the fingers and readily removed. '1 he arms of the square may then be readily separated in an Obvious manner.

The construction described has the advantage that the mortise joint forms a rigid connection between the arms, which is not impaired by continued service, and for that reason the accuracy of the instrument is maintained indefinitely. A further important advantage arises from the fact that when the square is assembled the connecting parts at the elbow do not project beyond the lines of the square. lln fact, the improved square when assembled presents substantially the same appearance as the ordinary integral squares, and the joint at the elbow is substantially as strong and rigid as in such integral squares. The connecting pin or the like is especially elfective in the improved construction by reason of the fact that in its operative position it lies substantially in the plane of the arms which it connects, it being anchored in the solid portions at opposite sides on the mortise or groove, and at the same time very easily detachable by reason of the provision of the opening or aperture Z).

The neatness of the construction is considerably increased by interposing the connecting pin or its equivalent between the opposing faces of the tenon or tongue 0 and the extension 6 2'. 6., between the under or rear face of the tenon or tongue and the front surface of the other arm. Hence, said pin is visible only at one or both ends of the same.

Although the foregoing description is a detailed one in so far as it concerns the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration, it will of course be understood that the invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A take down square comprising an arm formed with an elbow extension, the extension having a longitudinal undercut groove in one face extending into the arm and a second arm having a tongue shaped part fashioned to closelyfit in said groove and movable locking means for the parts comprising a slidable pin entering the body part of the first arm through the edge thereof and extending into the tongue shaped part of the second arm, whereby the tongue shaped part of the second arm is interlocked with the elbow extension of the first arm.

2. A take-down square comprising an arm formed with an extension, the extension having an under cut groove, a second arm provided with a tenon adapted to lit the groove in the extension, transverse grooves arranged in the extension and tenon adapted to register when the parts are in position, openings in the edges of the extension, and a pin adapted to be inserted through the openings and grooves in the extension and tenon to lock the parts in position.

3. A take down square comprising an arm, formed with an elbow extension, having a longitudinal groove therein, a second arm formed with a tenon adapted to register with the groove in the elbow extension of the first arm, interlocking means between the parts and movable locking means entering the edges of the extension and lying wholly between the faces of the extension and tenon, whereby the parts are locked in position.

4-. A take down square comprising an arm formed with an extension, the extension having a groove, a second arm provided with a tenon adapted to fit the groove in the extension, interlocking means between the parts, transverse grooves arranged in the opposing faces of the extension and tenon, adapted to register when the parts are in position, openings in the edges of the extension, and a pin adapted'to be inserted through the openings and grooves in the extension and tenon, to lock the parts in position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 2nd day of January, 191

HENRY MCCLEARY.

Vitnesses JOHN H. SHAW, L. FAIRCHILD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

